Accuracy of Tissue and Sonication Fluid Sampling for the Diagnosis of Fracture-Related Infection: Diagnostic Meta-Analysis

Evidence shows that tissue sample culturing is the gold standard approach for diagnosing fracture-related infection (FRI). Sonication fluid sampling has also been reported to be efficacious and superior to tissue sample culturing with prosthetic joint infection. However, data from the current literature are not enough to validate this hypothesis for FRI. We conducted a meta-analysis to validate the diagnostic accuracy of tissue sample culturing and sonication fluid aspiration and to find which one is superior to the other. An extensive search through the relevant databases was conducted to obtain all the relevant studies. We have included 13 relevant studies, including nine retrospective cohorts and four prospective ones. The overall pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of tissue sampling culture in diagnosing fracture-related infections were 98% (95% CI, 92% to 99%), 38% (95% CI, 23% to 56%), and 25 (4 to 154), respectively. The overall pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and DOR of sonication fluid sample culture in diagnosing fracture-related infections were 86% (95% CI, 79% to 92%), 98% (95% CI, 93% to 100%), and 353 (78 to 1598), respectively. No significant risk of bias was found regarding the sensitivity and specificity among studies investigating both modalities, however, significant heterogeneity was noticed. Sonication fluid sampling can be used to confirm FRI while tissue sampling can be used to exclude it and both modalities should be combined for obtaining the most accurate outcome.